12 artists you never would have thought won a Brit Award

A Brit Award is supposed to be one of the music industry’s highest accolades, but for some recipients it appears to have been more of a curse than a blessing.

Ahead of the 2016 ceremony today (Wednesday, February 24), here’s a look at the Brits winners who disappeared back into obscurity shortly after making the walk up to the podium, plus a few who took everyone by surprise on the night.

MC Hammer – Best International Newcomer (1991)

The 1991 Brits celebrated a year in which one of the all-time great divas, Mariah Carey, broke through, Deee-Lite produced one of the all-time great party records and Maria McKee gave us one of the all-time great corny power ballads.

And yet the Best International Newcomer was given to a novelty rapper famous for wearing a pair of gigantic parachute trousers.

Lisa Loeb – Best International Female (1995)

One of the ’90s true one-hit wonders, Lisa Loeb scored a massive hit with her contribution to the Reality Bites soundtrack, Stay, back in 1994, and appeared destined for greater things when she picked up Best International Female at the Brits a year later.

However, nine albums on and the bespectacled singer-songwriter has failed to even come close to replicating its success – although appearances in Gossip Girl, Hot Tub Time Machine 2 and Workaholics have recently kept her in the public eye.

Robert Miles – Best International Breakthrough (1997)

Italian chill-out maestro Robert Miles calmed ’90s ravers everywhere with his gorgeous trancey instrumental Children, and even managed a couple of decent follow-ups including Top 3 hit One and One.

However, just six months after beating the likes of Fun Lovin’ Criminals and Presidents of the USA to Best International Breakthrough, his second LP bombed and he was never really heard from again.

Shola Ama – Best British Female (1998)

Shola Ama was the golden girl of the UK R&B scene in the late 90s, having scored six Top 40 hits, a Top 10 album and a Best British Female Brit all before the age of 19.

Sadly, a cocaine addiction derailed her career and apart from a couple of guest spots with The Pirates and Toddla T, she hasn’t troubled the charts since 2000.

Belle And Sebastian – Best British Breakthrough (1999)

Unlike most of the artists on this list, Scottish indie outfit Belle and Sebastian have managed to sustain a consistently successful career, reaching No 9 as recently as last year with the album Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance.

However, their Best British Breakthrough victory over odds-on certainties Steps in 1999 remains the biggest shock in Brits history.

Beth Orton – Best British Female (2000)

The 2000 Best British Female category was labelled as a battle of the Spice Girls, with Geri Halliwell and Melanie C both receiving nominations for their debut solo efforts.

Although the former Ginger Spice and her giant inflatable legs stole the actual show, she and her former bandmate ended up walking away empty handed when folksy singer-songwriter Beth Orton was given the prize instead.

A1 – Best British Newcomer (2001)

In a year in which Coldplay arrived on the scene, Craig David cracked both sides of the Atlantic and Artful Dodger brought UK garage to the masses, the Best British Newcomer category went to a manufactured boyband just as renowned for their curtained haircuts as their music.

In fairness, A1 did produce a couple of killer hits (Same Old Brand New You, Caught In The Middle), but even the group themselves would probably now admit their 2001 win was a little unjust.

Shaggy – Best International Male (2002)

It seemed ridiculous even at the time, but in 2002 Shaggy was one of the biggest pop stars on the planet.

The man with more comebacks than a boomerang had scored two massive number ones, a chart-topping album and had even embarked on a sold-out arena tour.

But the Ali G collaboration he performed at the same ceremony proved to be his last major hit.

The Darkness – Best British Group, Best British Rock Act, Best British Album (2005)

Has any Best British Group winner fallen as far and as quickly as The Darkness?

The glam-rock revivalists cleaned up at the 2005 ceremony, picking up three awards, but just a year later audiences had grown tired of the joke and the band were written off as a novelty act.

Orson – Best International Breakthrough (2007)

The band with the lowest weekly sales for a number one single in UK chart history somehow beat Ray Lamontagne, Gnarls Barkley and The Raconteurs for Best International Breakthrough in 2007.

The Californian group split up shortly after, although members Jason Pebworth and George Astasio have since written monster hits for Iggy Azalea (Fancy), DJ Fresh (Hot Right Now) and Jessie J (Do it Like a Dude) under the guise of The Invisible Men.

Iron Maiden – Best British Live Act (2009)

Not that Iron Maiden weren’t deserving of the Best British Live Act award in 2009.

But in a category which included mainstream favourites Coldplay, Elbow and The Verve, and was voted for by listeners of Radio 2, few expected the heavy metal veterans to reign supreme.

Justin Bieber – Best International Breakthrough (2011)

Following his astonishing career turnaround, it will be a huge surprise if Justin Bieber doesn’t pick up this year’s Best International Male award.

But back in 2011, he was still the annoying teenage brat that had inflicted rubbish like One Time and Eenie Meenie onto the world, which is why his Best International Breakthrough victory over The National and Bruno Mars was regarded as something of a joke.